Insecticidal N-substituted (heteroaryl)cycloalkyl sulfoximines

ABSTRACT

N-Substituted (heteroaryl)cycloalkyl sulfoximines are effective at controlling insects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/841,937 filed on Sep. 1, 2006. Furthermore this application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/704,853 filed on Feb. 9, 2007.

The present invention concerns novel N-substituted (heteroaryl)cycloalkyl sulfoximines and their use in controlling insects and certain other invertebrates, particularly aphids and other sucking insects. This invention also includes new synthetic procedures for preparing the compounds, pesticide compositions containing the compounds, and methods of controlling insects using the compounds.

There is an acute need for new insecticides. Insects are developing resistance to the insecticides in current use. At least 400 species of arthropods are resistant to one or more insecticides. The development of resistance to some of the older insecticides, such as DDT, the carbamates, and the organophosphates, is well known. But resistance has even developed to some of the newer pyrethroid insecticides. Therefore a need exists for new insecticides, and particularly for compounds that have new or atypical modes of action.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0228027 A1 describes certain sulfoximine compounds including some containing some 1-(6-substituted-pyridin-3-yl)-1-methylethyl groups and their use in controlling insects. It has now been discovered that the corresponding 1-(6-substituted-pyridin-3-yl)cycloalkyl sulfoximines have greatly improved activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns compounds useful for the control of insects, especially useful for the control of aphids and other sucking insects. More specifically, the invention concerns compounds of formulas (I) or (II)

wherein

Z represents either O, NR⁴ or —(CH₂)—;

X represents NO₂, CN, COOR², COR³,

R¹ represents C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, C₃-C₆ haloakenyl or C₃-C₆ alkynyl;

R² represents C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl;

R³ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl;

R⁴ represents hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl;

n is an integer from 0-3;

m is an integer from 0-1; and

Y represents halo, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, CN, NO₂, SO_(p)R¹ where p is an integer from 0-2, COOR² or CONR²R³.

Preferred compounds of formulas (I) or (II) include the following classes:

(1) Compounds of formula (I) or (II) wherein X is NO₂ or CN, most preferably CN.

(2) Compounds of formulas (I) or (II) wherein R¹ is C₁-C₄ alkyl, most preferably methyl or ethyl.

(3) Compounds of formulas (I) or (II) wherein Y is halo, most preferably Cl, or trihalomethyl, most preferably CF₃.

(4) Compounds of formulas (I) or (II) wherein m+n≦3.

(5) Compounds of formulas (I) or (II) wherein Z is O or —(CH₂)—.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the most preferred compounds are generally those which are comprised of combinations of the above preferred classes.

The invention also provides new processes for preparing compounds of formulas (I) and (II) as well as new compositions and methods of use, which will be described in detail hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this document, all temperatures are given in degrees Celsius, and all percentages are weight percentages unless otherwise stated.

The terms “alkyl”, “alkenyl” and “alkynyl”, as well as derivative terms such as “alkoxy”, “acyl”, “alkylthio”, “arylalkyl”, “heteroarylalkyl” and “alkylsulfonyl”, as used herein, include within their scope straight chain, branched chain and cyclic moieties. Thus, typical alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, 1-methyl-ethyl, propyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, and cyclopropyl. Unless specifically stated otherwise, each may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from but not limited to halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylthio, C₁-C₆ acyl, formyl, cyano, aryloxy or aryl, provided that the substituents are sterically compatible and the rules of chemical bonding and strain energy are satisfied. The term “haloalkyl” and “haloalkenyl” includes alkyl and alkenyl groups substituted with from one to the maximum possible number of halogen atoms, all combinations of halogens included. The term “halogen” or “halo” includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, with fluorine being preferred. The terms “alkenyl” and “alkynyl” are intended to include one or more unsaturated bonds.

The term “aryl” refers to a phenyl, indanyl or naphthyl group. The term “heteroaryl” refers to a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring containing one or more heteroatoms, viz., N, O or S; these heteroaromatic rings may be fused to other aromatic systems. The aryl or heteroaryl substituents may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, aryloxy, formyl, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, halogenated C₁-C₆ alkyl, halogenated C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ acyl, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfonyl, aryl, C₁-C₆OC(O)alkyl, C₁-C₆ NHC(O)alkyl, C(O)OH, C₁-C₆ C(O)Oalkyl, C(O)NH₂, C₁-C₆ C(O)NHalkyl, or C₁-C₆ C(O)N(alkyl)₂, provided that the substituents are sterically compatible and the rules of chemical bonding and strain energy are satisfied.

The compounds of this invention can exist as one or more stereoisomers. The various stereoisomers include geometric isomers, diastereomers and enantiomers. Thus the compounds of the present invention include racemic mixtures, individual stereoisomers and optically active mixtures. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that one stereoisomer may be more active than the others. Individual stereoisomers and optically active mixtures may be obtained by selective synthetic procedures, by conventional synthetic procedures using resolved starting materials or by conventional resolution procedures.

The compounds of formulas (Ia) and (IIa), wherein Z is —(CH₂)— or O, and R¹, X, Y, m, and n are as previously defined can be prepared by the methods illustrated in Scheme A:

Accordingly the α-carbon of N-substituted (substitutedheteroaryl)methyl sulfoximines of formula (A) are alkylated with dibromoalkanes in the presence of a base such as potassium hexamethyl-disilamide (KHMDS) to give N-substituted sulfoximines of formulas (Ia) and (IIa).

The precursor sulfoximines of formula (A) wherein Het is (6-substituted-pyridin-3-yl), (2-substituted thiazol-5-yl), or (6-substituted thiazole-4-yl) and R¹, R², R³, X, Y are as previously defined can, in turn, be prepared from sulfides (B) according to the methods illustrated in Scheme B:

In step a of Scheme B, sulfides of formula (B) are oxidized with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) in a polar solvent below 0° C. to provide the sulfoxide of formula (C). In most cases, dichloromethane is the preferred solvent for oxidation.

In step b of Scheme B, sulfoxide (C) is imitated with sodium azide in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid in an aprotic solvent under heating to provide sulfoximine of formula (D). In most cases, chloroform is the preferred solvent for this reaction.

In step c of Scheme B, the nitrogen of sulfoximine (D) can be either cyanated with cyanogen bromide in the presence of a base, or nitrated with nitric acid in the presence of acetic anhydride under mildly elevated temperature, or carboxylated with alkyl (R⁴) chloroformate in the presence of base such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), or acylated with acyl halide in the presence of base such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to provide N-substituted sulfoximine (A). Base is required for efficient cyanation, carboxylation or acylation and the preferred base is DMAP, whereas sulfuric acid is used as catalyst for efficient nitration reaction.

The compounds of formula (A₁) wherein X represents CN and Het, R¹, and Y are as previously defined, can be also be prepared by the mild and efficient method illustrated in Scheme C.

In step a of Scheme C, sulfides of formula (B) are oxidized with iodobenzene diacetate in the presence of cyanamide at 0° C. to give sulfilimine (E). The reaction can be carried out in a polar aprotic solvent like CH₂Cl₂.

In step b of Scheme C, the sulfilimine (E) is oxidized with mCPBA. A base such as potassium carbonate is employed to neutralize the acidity of mCPBA. Protic polar solvents such as ethanol and water are used to increase the solubility of the sulfilimine starting material and the base employed.

Sulfides of formula (B) wherein Het, R¹, and Y are as previously defined can be prepared from either the chloride or the bromide of formula (F) by nucleophilic substitution with the sodium salt of an alkyl thiol as shown in Scheme D

Pyridyl sulfides of formula (B₁), wherein R¹=methyl or ethyl and Y is as previously defined can also be prepared via Scheme E wherein enamines, formed from the addition of an amine, e.g., pyrrolidine, with the Michael adduct of alkyl sulfides with acrolein, are coupled with substituted enones and cyclized with ammonium acetate in acetonitrile to yield the desired sulfides (B₁).

EXAMPLES

General Procedure for the Synthesis of Cyclic Sulfoximines.

To a solution of sulfoximine (1.0 eq) and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA; 0.5 eq) in tetrahydrofuran (THF; 0.2 M) at −78° C. was added potassium hexamethyl-disilazane (KHMDS; 0.5 M in toluene, 1.1 eq) dropwise. The solution was stirred at −78° C. for an additional 20 min, after which the desired dibromoalkane (2.2 eq) was added. The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature over the course of 1 hr, after which it was cooled back down to −78° C. and additional KHMDS was added (1.1 eq). The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature overnight, after which the reaction was quenched with satd. aq. NH₄Cl and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, concentrated, and the crude product purified by chromatography.

Example I Preparation of methyl(oxido) {1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl]cyclopropyl}-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (1)

To a solution of 3-chloromethyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (5.1 g, 26 mmol) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 20 mL) was added in one portion sodium thiomethoxide (1.8 g, 26 mmol). A violent exothermic reaction was observed which resulted in the reaction turning dark. The reaction was stirred for 1 hr, then additional sodium thiomethoxide (0.91 g, 13 mmol) was added slowly. The reaction was stirred overnight, after which it was poured into H₂O and several drops of conc. HCl were added. The mixture was extracted with Et₂O (3×50 mL) and the organic layers combined, washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The crude product was purified by chromatography (Prep 500, 10% acetone/hexanes) to furnish the sulfide (A) as a pale yellow oil (3.6 g, 67%). ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.6 (s, 1H), 7.9 (d, 1H), 7.7 (d, 1H), 3.7 (s, 2H), 2.0 (s, 3H); GC-MS: mass calcd for C₈H₈F₃NS [M]⁺207. Found 207.

To a solution of sulfide (A) (3.5 g, 17 mmol) and cyanamide (1.4 mg, 34 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 mL) at 0° C. was added iodobenzenediacetate (11.0 g, 34 mmol) all at once. The reaction was stirred for 30 min, then allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (50 mL) and washed with H₂O. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (4×50 mL), and the combined dichloromethane and ethyl acetate layers dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The crude product was triturated with hexanes and purifed by chromatography (chromatotron, 60% acetone/hexanes) to furnish the sulfilimine (B) as a yellow gum (0.60 g, 14%). IR (film) 3008, 2924, 2143, 1693 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.8 (s, 1H), 8.0 (d, 1H), 7.8 (d, 1H), 4.5 (d, 1H), 4.3 (d, 1H), 2.9 (s, 3H); LC-MS (ESI): mass calcd for C₉H₉F₃N₃S [M+H]⁺248.04. Found 248.

To a solution of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA; 80%, 1.0 g, 4.9 mmol) in EtOH (10 mL) at 0° C. was added a solution of K₂CO₃ (1.4 g, 10 mmol) in H₂O (7 mL). The solution was stirred for 20 min, then a solution of sulfilimine (B) (0.60 g, 2.4 mmol) in EtOH (20 mL) was added all at once. The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min, then allowed to warm to room temperature over the course of 1 hr. The reaction was then quenched with aq. sodium bisulfite and the mixture was concentrated to remove ethanol. The resulting mixture was extracted with dichloromethane and the combined organic layers dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The crude product was purified by chromatography (chromatotron, 50% acetone/hexanes) to furnish the sulfoximine (C) as an off-white solid (0.28 g, 44%). Mp=135-137° C.; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.8 (s, 1H), 8.1 (d, 1H), 7.8 (d, 1H), 4.7 (m, 2H), 3.2 (s, 3H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₉H₉F₃N₃OS [M+H]⁺264.04. Found 263.92.

Methyl(oxido) {1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl]cyclopropyl}-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (1) was prepared from sulfoximine (C) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. The title compound was obtained as a colorless oil (60% yield); ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.9 (s, 1H), 8.3 (dd, 1H), 7.8 (d, 1H), 3.1 (s, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1H), 2.0 (m, 1H), 1.5 (m, 2H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₁H₁₀F₃N₃OS [M]⁺, 289.28. Found 289.95.

Example II Preparation of methyl(oxido) [1-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)cyclopropyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (2)

Methyl(oxido) [1-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)cyclopropyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidene-cyanamide (2) was prepared from sulfoximine (D) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. The precursor sulfoximine (D) was, in turn, prepared according to methods described in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0228027 A1. The final product was isolated as a colorless oil (32% yield);

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.6 (s, 1H), 8.1 (dd, 1H), 7.5 (d, 1H), 3.0 (s, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1H), 2.0 (m, 1H), 1.5 (m, 2H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₀H₁₀ClN₃OS [M]⁺, 255.72. Found 255.99.

Example III Preparation of methyl(oxido)[1-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)cyclobutyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (3)

The title compound (3) was prepared from sulfoximine (D) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. Isolated as a light brown oil (10% yield); ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.5 (d, 1H), 7.8 (dd, 1H), 7.5 (d, 1H), 3.4 (m, 1H), 3.3 (m, 1H), 3.0 (s, 3H), 2.8 (m, 2H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 2.1 (m, 1H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₁H₁₁ClN₃OS [M−H]⁺, 268.74. Found 268.12.

Example IV Preparation of methyl(oxido)[1-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)cyclopentyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (4)

The title compound (4) was prepared from sulfoximine (D) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. Isolated as a colorless oil (17% yield); ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.6 (d, 1H), 8.0 (dd, 1H), 7.4 (d, 1H), 2.9 (s, 3H), 2.8 (m, 2H), 2.5 (m, 2H), 2.1 (m, 2H), 1.8 (m, 2H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₂H₁₄ClN₃OS [M]⁺, 283.78. Found 284.02.

Example V Preparation of methyl(oxido)[1-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)cyclohexyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (5)

The title compound (5) was prepared from sulfoximine (D) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. Isolated as a yellow oil (33% yield); ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.55 (d, 1H), 7.92 (dd, 1H), 7.50 (d, 1H), 2.87 (s, 3H), 2.74 (m, 2H), 2.32 (m, 2H), 1.91 (m, 2H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.39 (m, 1H) 1.19-1.32 (m, 2H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₃H₁₇ClN₃OS [M+H]⁺, 298. Found 298.

Example VI Preparation of methyl(oxido)[4-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)tetra hydro-pyran-4-yl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidenecyanamide (6)

The title compound (6) was prepared from sulfoximine (D) according to the general alkylation conditions described above. Isolated as a white solid (33% yield); Mp=92-94° C.; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.55 (d, 1H), 7.92 (dd, 1H), 7.53 (d, 1H), 4.09 (m, 2H), 3.35 (m, 2H), 2.91 (s, 3H), 2.55-2.74 (m, 4H); LC-MS (ELSD): mass calcd for C₁₂H₁₅ClN₃O₂S [M+H]⁺, 300. Found 300.

Example VII Insecticidal Testing

The compounds identified in the foregoing examples were tested against cotton aphid using procedures described hereinafter.

Insecticidal Test for Cotton Aphid (Aphis gossypii) in Foliar Spray Assay

Squash with fully expanded cotyledon leaves were trimmed to one cotyledon per plant and infested with cotton aphid (wingless adult and nymph) 1 day prior to chemical application. Each plant was examined before chemical application to ensure proper infestation (ca. 30-70 aphids per plant). Compounds (2 mg) were dissolved in 2 ml of acetone:methanol (1:1) solvent, forming stock solutions of 1000 ppm. The stock solutions were diluted 5× with 0.025% Tween 20 in H₂O to obtain a solution at 200 ppm. Lower concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125, 0.781 and 0.195 ppm) were prepared by making sequential 4× dilutions from the 200 ppm solution with a diluent consisting 80 parts of 0.025% Tween 20 in H₂O and 20 parts of acetone:methanol (1:1). A hand-held Devilbiss sprayer was used to apply the spray solutions until runoff to both sides of the squash cotyledon leaves. Four plants (4 replications) were used for each concentration of each compound. Reference plants (solvent check) were sprayed with the diluent only. Treated plants were held in a holding room for 3 days at approximately 23° C. and 40% RH before the number of live aphids on each plant was recorded. Insecticidal activity was measured by Corrected % Control using Abbott's correction formula and presented in Table 1: Corrected % Control=100*(X−Y)/X

-   -   where X=No. of live aphids on solvent check plants         -   Y=No. of live aphids on treated plants

TABLE 1 % Control at ppm, against cotton aphid on squash (foliar spray) Comp # 50 ppm 12.5 ppm 3.13 ppm 0.78 ppm 1 A A A A 2 H H A A 3 A H H H 4 A H H H 5 A A A G 6 A A A A

In each case of Table 1 the rating scale is as follows:

% Control (or Mortality) Rating 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 50-59 E Less than 50 F Inactive G Not tested H

The compounds that showed high activities against cotton aphid in Table 1 were further tested against green peach aphid using procedures described hereinafter. Results are shown in Table 2.

Insecticidal Test for Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae) in Foliar Spray Assay

Cabbage seedlings grown in 3-inch pots, with 2-3 small (3-5 cm) true leaves, were used as test substrate. The seedlings were infested with 20-50 green peach aphids (wingless adult and nymph) 2-3 days prior to chemical application. Four seedlings were used for each treatment. Compounds (2 mg) were dissolved in 2 ml of acetone:methanol (1:1) solvent, forming stock solutions of 1000 ppm. The stock solutions were diluted 5× with 0.025% Tween 20 in H₂O to obtain a solution at 200 ppm. Lower concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125 and 0.781 ppm) were prepared by making sequential 4× dilutions from the 200 ppm solution with a diluent consisting 80 parts of 0.025% Tween 20 in H₂O and 20 parts of acetone:methanol (1:1). A hand-held Devilbiss sprayer was used for spraying a solution to both sides of cabbage leaves until runoff. Reference plants (solvent check) were sprayed with the diluent only. Treated plants were held in a holding room for three days at approximately 23° C. and 40% RH prior to grading. Evaluation was conducted by counting the number of live aphids per plant under a microscope. Insecticidal activity was measured by using Abbott's correction formula: Corrected % Control=100*(X−Y)/X

-   -   where X=No. of live aphids on solvent check plants         -   Y=No. of live aphids on treated plants

TABLE 2 % Control at ppm, against green peach aphid on cabbage (foliar spray) Comp # 200 ppm 50 ppm 12.5 ppm 3.13 ppm 0.78 ppm 1 A A A B F 2 H H H A D 6 A G G G G

In each case of Table 2 the rating scale is the same as that used for Table 1.

Compound 2 was selected for further testing against sweet potato whitefly, brown planthopper and green leafhopper using procedures described hereinafter. Results are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

Insecticidal Test for Sweet Potato Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in Foliar Spray Assay

This test was designed to measure the capability of whitefly eggs and/or young nymphs to develop to large nymphs. Cotton seedlings at the growth stage of one or two expanding true leaf were trimmed so that only the first true leaf remained (cotyledon leaves were also removed). The plants were pre-infested with sweet potato whitefly eggs by keeping plants next to the colony-keeping plants for two days. The infested plants were carefully checked for presence of similar egg density before use in the insecticidal tests. Master solutions of test compounds at 1000 ppm were prepared in acetone: methanol (1:1). The 12.5 ppm spray solutions were then made by diluting 0.188 mL of the master solution with 14.812 ml of 0.025% Tween 20 in water. The lower concentrations were made by diluting the 12.5 ppm spray solution with a diluent consisting 98.75 parts of 0.025% Tween 20 in water and 1.25 parts of acetone:methanol (1:1). The diluent was used as solvent control. The test solutions were sprayed with a hand-held Devilbiss sprayer until runoff to both sides of the infested cotton leaves. Four plants (4 replications) were used for each treatment. Treated plants were held in a holding room for 12 days at approximately 23° C. and 40% RH before evaluation. To evaluate the efficacy of the compounds, the number of live large nymphs in an area of 1 square inch on the lower surface of the treated cotton leaves was counted under a microscope. Insecticidal activity was determined by Corrected % Control using Abbott's correction formula and presented in Table 3: Corrected % Control=100*(X−Y)/X

-   -   where X=No. of live large nymphs on solvent check plants         -   Y=No. of live large nymphs on treated plants

TABLE 3 % Control at ppm, against sweet potato whitefly on cotton, foliar spray Comp # 0.781 3.125 12.500 2 F E C

In each case of Table 3 the rating scale is the same as that used for Table 1.

Insecticidal Test for Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and Green Leafhopper (Nephotettix sp.)

A root-uptake systemic assay was performed on both brown planthopper and green leafhopper. Four-week-old rice seedlings were submerged in 3-cm depth of water in the bottom portion (high 5 cm, diameter 3 cm) of a 2-part glass cylinder (high 18 cm, diameter 3 cm). A metal screen was used to hold the seedlings within the bottom portion. Scotch tape was used to bind the two portions of the cylinder after setting up the seedlings. A metal cap was used to cover the cylinder. There were 4 cylinders for each treatment. The test compound was dissolved in acetone to make a 10,000 ppm stock solution. The stock solution was incorporated at final test concentrations of 10 ppm in the water in which rice seedlings were submerged. Five laboratory-reared 3^(rd) instar nymphs of brown planthopper or green leafhopper were introduced into each cylinder 3 hr after insecticide application. The treated test units were kept in a growth chamber with conditions set as followings: Temperature 28±0.5° C.; Relative humidity 70±0.5%; Photoperiod 14 hr light: 8 hr dark. Mortality of hoppers was observed at 2 and 6 days after infestation. The Corrected % Control values are given in Table 4.

TABLE 4 % Systemic Control at 10 ppm on rice Brown Green Comp # Planthopper Leafhopper 2 E B

In each case of Table 4 the rating scale is the same as that used for Table 1.

Insecticide Utility

The compounds of the invention are useful for the control of invertebrates including insects. Therefore, the present invention also is directed to a method for inhibiting an insect which comprises applying an insect-inhibiting amount of a compound of formula (I) to a locus of the insect, to the area to be protected, or directly on the insect to be controlled. The compounds of the invention may also be used to control other invertebrate pests such as mites and nematodes.

The “locus” of insects or other pests is a term used herein to refer to the environment in which the insects or other pests live or where their eggs are present, including the air surrounding them, the food they eat, or objects which they contact. For example, insects which eat, damage or contact edible, commodity, ornamental, turf or pasture plants can be controlled by applying the active compounds to the seed of the plant before planting, to the seedling, or cutting which is planted, the leaves, stems, fruits, grain, and/or roots, or to the soil or other growth medium before or after the crop is planted. Protection of these plants against virus, fungus or bacterium diseases may also be achieved indirectly through controlling sap-feeding pests such as whitefly, plant hopper, aphid and spider mite. Such plants include those which are bred through conventional approaches and which are genetically modified using modern biotechnology to gain insect-resistant, herbicide-resistant, nutrition-enhancement, and/or any other beneficial traits.

It is contemplated that the compounds might also be useful to protect textiles, paper, stored grain, seeds and other foodstuffs, houses and other buildings which may be occupied by humans and/or companion, farm, ranch, zoo, or other animals, by applying an active compound to or near such objects. Domesticated animals, buildings or human beings might be protected with the compounds by controlling invertebrate and/or nematode pests that are parasitic or are capable of transmitting infectious diseases. Such pests include, for example, chiggers, ticks, lice, mosquitoes, flies, fleas and heartworms. Nonagronomic applications also include invertebrate pest control in forests, in yards, along road sides and railroad right of way.

The term “inhibiting an insect” refers to a decrease in the numbers of living insects, or a decrease in the number of viable insect eggs. The extent of reduction accomplished by a compound depends, of course, upon the application rate of the compound, the particular compound used, and the target insect species. At least an inactivating amount should be used. The term “insect-inactivating amount” is used to describe the amount, which is sufficient to cause a measurable reduction in the treated insect population. Generally an amount in the range from about 1 to about 1000 ppm by weight active compound is used. For example, insects or other pests which can be inhibited include, but are not limited to:

-   Lepidoptera—Heliothis spp., Helicoverpa spp., Spodoptera spp.,     Mythimna unipuncta, Agrotis ipsilon, Earias spp., Euxoa auxiliaris,     Trichoplusia ni, Anticarsia gemmatalis, Rachiplusia nu, Plutella     xylostella, Chilo spp., Scirpophaga incertulas, Sesamia inferens,     Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Ostrinia nubilalis, Cydia pomonella,     Carposina niponensis, Adoxophyes orana, Archips argyrospilus,     Pandemis heparana, Epinotia aporema, Eupoecilia ambiguella, Lobesia     botrana, Polychrosis viteana, Pectinophora gossypiella, Pieris     rapae, Phyllonorycter spp., Leucoptera malifoliella, Phyllocnisitis     citrella -   Coleoptera—Diabrotica spp., Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Oulema     oryzae, Anthonomus grandis, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Agriotes     spp., Melanotus communis, Popilliajaponica, Cyclocephala spp.,     Tribolium spp. -   Homoptera—Aphis spp., Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum spp., Dysaphis     plantaginea, Toxoptera spp., Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Aulacorthum     solani, Sitobion avenae, Metopolophium dirhodum, Schizaphis gramin     u, Brachycolus noxius, Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata lugens,     Sogatellafurcifera, Laodelphax striatellus, Bemisia tabaci,     Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Ale urodes proletella, Aleurothrixus     floccosus, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Unaspis yanonensis,     Ceroplastes rubens, Aonidiella aurantii -   Hemiptera—Lygus spp., Eurygaster maura, Nezara viridula, Piezodorus     guildingi, Leptocorisa varicornis, Cimex lectularius, Cimex     hemipterus -   Thysanoptera—Frankliniella spp., Thrips spp., Scirtothrips dorsalis -   Isoptera—Reticulitermes flavipes, Coptotermes formosanus,     Reticulitermes virginicus, Heterotermes aureus, Reticulitermes     hesperus, Coptotermesfrenchii, Shedorhinotermes spp., Reticulitermes     santonensis, Reticulitermes grassei, Reticulitermes banyulensis,     Reticulitermes speratus, Reticulitermes hageni, Reticulitermes     tibialis, Zootermopsis spp., Incisitermes spp., Marginitermes spp.,     Macrotermes spp., Microcerotermes spp., Microtermes spp. -   Diptera—Liriomyza spp., Musca domestica, Aedes spp., Cu lex spp.,     Anopheles spp., Fannia spp., Stomoxys spp., -   Hymenoptera—Iridomyrmex humilis, Solenopsis spp., Monomorium     pharaonis, Atta spp., Pogonomyrmex spp., Camponotus spp., Monomorium     spp., Tapinoma sessile, Tetramorium spp., Xylocapa spp., Vespula     spp., Polistes spp. -   Mallophaga (chewing lice) -   Anoplura (sucking lice)—Pthirus pubis, Pediculus spp. -   Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)—Melanoplus spp., Locusta     migratoria, Schistocerca gregaria, Gryllotalpidae (mole crickets). -   Blattoidea (cockroaches)—Blatta orientalis, Blattella germanica,     Periplaneta americana, Supella longipalpa, Periplaneta australasiae,     Periplaneta brunnea, Parcoblatta pennsylvanica, Periplaneta     fuliginosa, Pycnoscelus surinamensis, -   Siphonaptera—Ctenophalides spp., Pulex irritans -   Acari—Tetranychus spp., Panonychus spp., Eotetranychus carpini,     Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Aculus pelekassi, Brevipalpus phoenicis,     Boophilus spp., Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus,     Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes spp., Notoedres cati, Sarcoptes     scabiei, Dermatophagoides spp. -   Nematoda—Dirofilaria immitis, Meloidogyne spp., Heterodera spp.,     Hoplolaimus columbus, Belonolaimus spp., Pratylenchus spp.,     Rotylenchus reniformis, Criconemella ornata, Ditylenchus spp.,     Aphelenchoides besseyi, Hirschmanniella spp.     Compositions

The compounds of this invention are applied in the form of compositions which are important embodiments of the invention, and which comprise a compound of this invention and a phytologically-acceptable inert carrier. Control of the pests is achieved by applying compounds of the invention in forms of sprays, topical treatment, gels, seed coatings, microcapsulations, systemic uptake, baits, eartags, boluses, foggers, fumigants aerosols, dusts and many others. The compositions are either concentrated solid or liquid formulations which are dispersed in water for application, or are dust or granular formulations which are applied without further treatment. The compositions are prepared according to procedures and formulae which are conventional in the agricultural chemical art, but which are novel and important because of the presence therein of the compounds of this invention. Some description of the formulation of the compositions will be given, however, to assure that agricultural chemists can readily prepare any desired composition.

The dispersions in which the compounds are applied are most often aqueous suspensions or emulsions prepared from concentrated formulations of the compounds. Such water-soluble, water-suspendable or emulsifiable formulations are either solids, usually known as wettable powders, or liquids usually known as emulsifiable concentrates or aqueous suspensions. Wettable powders, which may be compacted to form water dispersible granules, comprise an intimate mixture of the active compound, an inert carrier, and surfactants. The concentration of the active compound is usually from about 10% to about 90% by weight. The inert carrier is usually chosen from among the attapulgite clays, the montmorillonite clays, the diatomaceous earths, or the purified silicates. Effective surfactants, comprising from about 0.5% to about 10% of the wettable powder, are found among the sulfonated lignins, the condensed naphthalenesulfonates, the naphthalenesulfonates, the alkylbenzenesulfonates, the alkyl sulfates, and nonionic surfactants such as ethylene oxide adducts of alkyl phenols.

Emulsifiable concentrates of the compounds comprise a convenient concentration of a compound, such as from about 50 to about 500 grams per liter of liquid, equivalent to about 10% to about 50%, dissolved in an inert carrier which is either a water miscible solvent or a mixture of water-immiscible organic solvent and emulsifiers. Useful organic solvents include aromatics, especially the xylenes, and the petroleum fractions, especially the high-boiling naphthalenic and olefinic portions of petroleum such as heavy aromatic naphtha. Other organic solvents may also be used, such as the terpenic solvents including rosin derivatives, aliphatic ketones such as cyclohexanone, and complex alcohols such as 2-ethoxyethanol. Suitable emulsifiers for emulsifiable concentrates are chosen from conventional anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, such as those discussed above.

Aqueous suspensions comprise suspensions of water-insoluble compounds of this invention, dispersed in an aqueous vehicle at a concentration in the range from about 5% to about 50% by weight. Suspensions are prepared by finely grinding the compound, and vigorously mixing it into a vehicle comprised of water and surfactants chosen from the same types discussed above. Inert ingredients, such as inorganic salts and synthetic or natural gums, may also be added, to increase the density and viscosity of the aqueous vehicle. It is often most effective to grind and mix the compound at the same time by preparing the aqueous mixture, and homogenizing it in an implement such as a sand mill, ball mill, or piston-type homogenizer.

The compounds may also be applied as granular compositions, which are particularly useful for applications to the soil. Granular compositions usually contain from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the compound, dispersed in an inert carrier which consists entirely or in large part of clay or a similar inexpensive substance. Such compositions are usually prepared by dissolving the compound in a suitable solvent and applying it to a granular carrier which has been pre-formed to the appropriate particle size, in the range of from about 0.5 to 3 mm. Such compositions may also be formulated by making a dough or paste of the carrier and compound and crushing and drying to obtain the desired granular particle size.

Dusts containing the compounds are prepared simply by intimately mixing the compound in powdered form with a suitable dusty agricultural carrier, such as kaolin clay, ground volcanic rock, and the like. Dusts can suitably contain from about 1% to about 10% of the compound.

It is equally practical, when desirable for any reason, to apply the compound in the form of a solution in an appropriate organic solvent, usually a bland petroleum oil, such as the spray oils, which are widely used in agricultural chemistry.

Insecticides and acaricides are generally applied in the form of a dispersion of the active ingredient in a liquid carrier. It is conventional to refer to application rates in terms of the concentration of active ingredient in the carrier. The most widely used carrier is water.

The compounds of the invention can also be applied in the form of an aerosol composition. In such compositions the active compound is dissolved or dispersed in an inert carrier, which is a pressure-generating propellant mixture. The aerosol composition is packaged in a container from which the mixture is dispensed through an atomizing valve. Propellant mixtures comprise either low-boiling halocarbons, which may be mixed with organic solvents, or aqueous suspensions pressurized with inert gases or gaseous hydrocarbons.

The actual amount of compound to be applied to loci of insects and mites is not critical and can readily be determined by those skilled in the art in view of the examples above. In general, concentrations from 10 ppm to 5000 ppm by weight of compound are expected to provide good control. With many of the compounds, concentrations from 100 to 1500 ppm will suffice.

The locus to which a compound is applied can be any locus inhabited by an insect or mite, for example, vegetable crops, fruit and nut trees, grape vines, ornamental plants, domesticated animals, the interior or exterior surfaces of buildings, and the soil around buildings.

Because of the unique ability of insect eggs to resist toxicant action, repeated applications may be desirable to control newly emerged larvae, as is true of other known insecticides and acaricides.

Systemic movement of compounds of the invention in plants may be utilized to control pests on one portion of the plant by applying the compounds to a different portion of it. For example, control of foliar-feeding insects can be controlled by drip irrigation or furrow application, or by treating the seed before planting. Seed treatment can be applied to all types of seeds, including those from which plants genetically transformed to express specialized traits will germinate. Representative examples include those expressing proteins toxic to invertebrate pests, such as Bacillus thuringiensis or other insecticidal proteins, those expressing herbicide resistance, such as “Roundup Ready®” seed, or those with “stacked” foreign genes expressing insecticidal proteins, herbicide resistance, nutrition-enhancement and/or any other beneficial traits.

An insecticidal bait composition consisting of compounds of the present invention and attractants and/or feeding stimulants may be used to increase efficacy of the insecticides against insect pest in a device such as trap, bait station, and the like. The bait composition is usually a solid, semi-solid (including gel) or liquid bait matrix including the stimulants and one or more non-microencapsulated or microencapsulated insecticides in an amount effective to act as kill agents.

The compounds of the present invention (Formula I) are often applied in conjunction with one or more other insecticides or fungicides or herbicides to obtain control of a wider variety of pests diseases and weeds. When used in conjunction with other insecticides or fungicides or herbicides, the presently claimed compounds can be formulated with the other insecticides or fungicides or herbicide, tank mixed with the other insecticides or fungicides or herbicides, or applied sequentially with the other insecticides or fungicides or herbicides.

Some of the insecticides that can be employed beneficially in combination with the compounds of the present invention include: antibiotic insecticides such as allosamidin and thuringiensin; macrocyclic lactone insecticides such as spinosad, spinetoram, and other spinosyns including the 21-butenyl spinosyns and their derivatives; avermectin insecticides such as abamectin, doramectin, emamectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin and selamectin; milbemycin insecticides such as lepimectin, milbemectin, milbemycin oxime and moxidectin; arsenical insecticides such as calcium arsenate, copper acetoarsenite, copper arsenate, lead arsenate, potassium arsenite and sodium arsenite; biological insecticides such as Bacillus popilliae, B. sphaericus, B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, Beauveria bassiana, Cydia pomonella granulosis virus, Douglas fir tussock moth NPV, gypsy moth NPV, Helicoverpa zea NPV, Indian meal moth granulosis virus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Nosema locustae, Paecilomycesfumosoroseus, P. lilacinus, Photorhabdus luminescens, Spodoptera exigua NPV, trypsin modulating oostatic factor, Xenorhabdus nematophilus, and X. bovienii, plant incorporated protectant insecticides such as Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, Cry3A, mir Cry3A, Cry3Bb1, Cry34, Cry35, and VIP3A; botanical insecticides such as anabasine, azadirachtin, d-limonene, nicotine, pyrethrins, cinerins, cinerin I, cinerin II, jasmolin I, jasmolin II, pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, quassia, rotenone, ryania and sabadilla; carbamate insecticides such as bendiocarb and carbaryl; benzofuranyl methylcarbamate insecticides such as benfuracarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, decarbofuran and furathiocarb; dimethylcarbamate insecticides dimitan, dimetilan, hyquincarb and pirimicarb; oxime carbamate insecticides such as alanycarb, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, methomyl, nitrilacarb, oxamyl, tazimcarb, thiocarboxime, thiodicarb and thiofanox; phenyl methylcarbamate insecticides such as allyxycarb, aminocarb, bufencarb, butacarb, carbanolate, cloethocarb, dicresyl, dioxacarb, EMPC, ethiofencarb, fenethacarb, fenobucarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, metolcarb, mexacarbate, promacyl, promecarb, propoxur, trimethacarb, XMC and xylylcarb; dinitrophenol insecticides such as dinex, dinoprop, dinosam and DNOC; fluorine insecticides such as barium hexafluorosilicate, cryolite, sodium fluoride, sodium hexafluorosilicate and sulfluramid; formamidine insecticides such as amitraz, chlordimeform, formetanate and formparanate; fumigant insecticides such as acrylonitrile, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chloropicrin, para-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloropropane, ethyl formate, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene oxide, hydrogen cyanide, iodomethane, methyl bromide, methylchloroform, methylene chloride, naphthalene, phosphine, sulfuryl fluoride and tetrachloroethane; inorganic insecticides such as borax, calcium polysulfide, copper oleate, mercurous chloride, potassium thiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate; chitin synthesis inhibitors such as bistrifluoron, buprofezin, chlorfluazuron, cyromazine, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, penfluoron, teflubenzuron and triflumuron; juvenile hormone mimics such as epofenonane, fenoxycarb, hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene, pyriproxyfen and triprene; juvenile hormones such as juvenile hormone I, juvenile hormone II and juvenile hormone III; moulting hormone agonists such as chromafenozide, halofenozide, methoxyfenozide and tebufenozide; moulting hormones such as α-ecdysone and ecdysterone; moulting inhibitors such as diofenolan; precocenes such as precocene I, precocene II and precocene III; unclassified insect growth regulators such as dicyclanil; nereistoxin analogue insecticides such as bensultap, cartap, thiocyclam and thiosultap; nicotinoid insecticides such as flonicamid; nitroguanidine insecticides such as clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam; nitromethylene insecticides such as nitenpyram and nithiazine; pyridylmethylamine insecticides such as acetamiprid, imidacloprid, nitenpyram and thiacloprid; organochlorine insecticides such as bromo-DDT, camphechlor, DDT, pp′-DDT, ethyl-DDD, HCH, gamma-HCH, lindane, methoxychlor, pentachlorophenol and TDE; cyclodiene insecticides such as aldrin, bromocyclen, chlorbicyclen, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, dilor, endosulfan, endrin, HEOD, heptachlor, HHDN, isobenzan, isodrin, kelevan and mirex; organophosphate insecticides such as bromfenvinfos, chlorfenvinphos, crotoxyphos, dichlorvos, dicrotophos, dimethylvinphos, fospirate, heptenophos, methocrotophos, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, naftalofos, phosphamidon, propaphos, TEPP and tetrachlorvinphos; organothiophosphate insecticides such as dioxabenzofos, fosmethilan and phenthoate; aliphatic organothiophosphate insecticides such as acethion, amiton, cadusafos, chlorethoxyfos, chlormephos, demephion, demephion-O, demephion-S, demeton, demeton-O, demeton-S, demeton-methyl, demeton-O-methyl, demeton-S-methyl, demeton-S-methylsulphon, disulfoton, ethion, ethoprophos, IPSP, isothioate, malathion, methacrifos, oxydemeton-methyl, oxydeprofos, oxydisulfoton, phorate, sulfotep, terbufos and thiometon; aliphatic amide organothiophosphate insecticides such as amidithion, cyanthoate, dimethoate, ethoate-methyl, formothion, mecarbam, omethoate, prothoate, sophamide and vamidothion; oxime organothiophosphate insecticides such as chlorphoxim, phoxim and phoxim-methyl; heterocyclic organothiophosphate insecticides such as azamethiphos, coumaphos, coumithoate, dioxathion, endothion, menazon, morphothion, phosalone, pyraclofos, pyridaphenthion and quinothion; benzothiopyran organothiophosphate insecticides such as dithicrofos and thicrofos; benzotriazine organothiophosphate insecticides such as azinphos-ethyl and azinphos-methyl; isoindole organothiophosphate insecticides such as dialifos and phosmet; isoxazole organothiophosphate insecticides such as isoxathion and zolaprofos; pyrazolopyrimidine organothiophosphate insecticides such as chlorprazophos and pyrazophos; pyridine organothiophosphate insecticides such as chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl; pyrimidine organothiophosphate insecticides such as butathiofos, diazinon, etrimfos, lirimfos, pirimiphos-ethyl, pirimiphos-methyl, primidophos, pyrimitate and tebupirimfos; quinoxaline organothiophosphate insecticides such as quinalphos and quinalphos-methyl; thiadiazole organothiophosphate insecticides such as athidathion, lythidathion, methidathion and prothidathion; triazole organothiophosphate insecticides such as isazofos and triazophos; phenyl organothiophosphate insecticides such as azothoate, bromophos, bromophos-ethyl, carbophenothion, chlorthiophos, cyanophos, cythioate, dicapthon, dichlofenthion, etaphos, famphur, fenchlorphos, fenitrothion fensulfothion, fenthion, fenthion-ethyl, heterophos, jodfenphos, mesulfenfos, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenkapton, phosnichlor, profenofos, prothiofos, sulprofos, temephos, trichlormetaphos-3 and trifenofos; phosphonate insecticides such as butonate and trichlorfon; phosphonothioate insecticides such as mecarphon; phenyl ethylphosphonothioate insecticides such as fonofos and trichloronat; phenylphenylphosphonothioate insecticides such as cyanofenphos, EPN and leptophos; phosphoramidate insecticides such as crufomate, fenamiphos, fosthietan, mephosfolan, phosfolan and pirimetaphos; phosphoramidothioate insecticides such as acephate, isocarbophos, isofenphos, methamidophos and propetamphos; phosphorodiamide insecticides such as dimefox, mazidox, mipafox and schradan; oxadiazine insecticides such as indoxacarb; phthalimide insecticides such as dialifos, phosmet and tetramethrin; pyrazole insecticides such as acetoprole, ethiprole, fipronil, pyrafluprole, pyriprole, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad and vaniliprole; pyrethroid ester insecticides such as acrinathrin, allethrin, bioallethrin, barthrin, bifenthrin, bioethanomethrin, cyclethrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, theta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, dimefluthrin, dimethrin, empenthrin, fenfluthrin, fenpirithrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, esfenvalerate, flucythrinate, fluvalinate, tau-fluvalinate, furethrin, imiprothrin, metofluthrin, permethrin, biopermethrin, transpermethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, profluthrin, pyresmethrin, resmethrin, bioresmethrin, cismethrin, tefluthrin, terallethrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin and transfluthrin; pyrethroid ether insecticides such as etofenprox, flufenprox, halfenprox, protrifenbute and silafluofen; pyrimidinamine insecticides such as flufenerim and pyrimidifen; pyrrole insecticides such as chlorfenapyr; tetronic acid insecticides such as spirodiclofen, spiromesifen and spirotetramat; thiourea insecticides such as diafenthiuron; urea insecticides such as flucofuron and sulcofuron; and unclassified insecticides such as AKD-3088, closantel, crotamiton, cyflumetofen, E2Y45, EXD, fenazaflor, fenazaquin, fenoxacrim, fenpyroximate, FKI-1033, flubendiamide, HGW86, hydramethylnon, IKI-2002, isoprothiolane, malonoben, metaflumizone, metoxadiazone, nifluridide, NNI-9850, NNI-0101, pymetrozine, pyridaben, pyridalyl, Qcide, rafoxanide, rynaxypyr, SYJ-159, triarathene and triazamate and any combinations thereof.

Some of the fungicides that can be employed beneficially in combination with the compounds of the present invention include: 2-(thiocyanatomethylthio)-benzothiazole, 2-phenylphenol, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, Ampelomyces, quisqualis, azaconazole, azoxystrobin, Bacillus subtilis, benalaxyl, benomyl, benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, benzylaminobenzene-sulfonate (BABS) salt, bicarbonates, biphenyl, bismerthiazol, bitertanol, blasticidin-S, borax, Bordeaux mixture, boscalid, bromuconazole, bupirimate, calcium polysulfide, captafol, captan, carbendazim, carboxin, carpropamid, carvone, chloroneb, chlorothalonil, chlozolinate, Coniothyrium minitans, copper hydroxide, copper octanoate, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, copper sulfate (tribasic), cuprous oxide, cyazofamid, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, dazomet, debacarb, diammonium ethylenebis-(dithiocarbamate), dichlofluanid, dichlorophen, diclocymet, diclomezine, dichloran, diethofencarb, difenoconazole, difenzoquat ion, diflumetorim, dimethomorph, dimoxystrobin, diniconazole, diniconazole-M,dinobuton, dinocap, diphenylamine, dithianon, dodemorph, dodemorph acetate, dodine, dodine free base, edifenphos, epoxiconazole, ethaboxam, ethoxyquin, etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fenfuram, fenhexamid, fenoxanil, fenpiclonil, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fentin, fentin acetate, fentin hydroxide, ferbam, ferimzone, fluazinam, fludioxonil, flumorph, fluopicolide, fluoroimide, fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flusulfamide, flutolanil, flutriafol, folpet, formaldehyde, fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminium, fuberidazole, furalaxyl, furametpyr, guazatine, guazatine acetates, GY-81, hexachlorobenzene, hexaconazole, hymexazol, imazalil, imazalil sulfate, imibenconazole, iminoctadine, iminoctadine triacetate, iminoctadine tris(albesilate), ipconazole, iprobenfos, iprodione, iprovalicarb, isoprothiolane, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate, kresoxim-methyl, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, mepanipyrim, mepronil, mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, mercurous chloride, metalaxyl, mefenoxam, metalaxyl-M, metam, metam-ammonium, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, metconazole, methasulfocarb, methyl iodide, methyl isothiocyanate, metiram, metominostrobin, metrafenone, mildiomycin, myclobutanil, nabam, nitrothal-isopropyl, nuarimol, octhilinone, ofurace, oleic acid (fatty acids), orysastrobin, oxadixyl, oxine-copper, oxpoconazole fumarate, oxycarboxin, pefurazoate, penconazole, pencycuron, pentachlorophenol, pentachlorophenyl laurate, penthiopyrad, phenylmercury acetate, phosphonic acid, phthalide, picoxystrobin, polyoxin B, polyoxins, polyoxorim, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxyquinoline sulfate, probenazole, prochloraz, procymidone, propamocarb, propamocarb hydrochloride, propiconazole, propineb, proquinazid, prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin, pyrazophos, pyributicarb, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, pyroquilon, quinoclamine, quinoxyfen, quintozene, Reynoutria sachalinensis extract, silthiofam, simeconazole, sodium 2-phenylphenoxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium pentachlorophenoxide, spiroxamine, sulfur, SYP-Z071, tar oils, tebuconazole, tecnazene, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, thifluzamide, thiophanate-methyl, thiram, tiadinil, tolclofos-methyl, tolylfluanid, triadimefon, triadimenol, triazoxide, tricyclazole, tridemorph, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, triforine, triticonazole, validamycin, vinclozolin, zineb, ziram, zoxamide, Candida oleophila, Fusarium oxysporum, Gliocladium spp., Phlebiopsis gigantean, Streptomyces griseoviridis, Trichoderma spp., (RS)—N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-(methoxymethyl)-succinimide, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetrafluoroacetone hydrate, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitronaphthalene, 1-chloro-2-nitropropane, 2-(2-heptadecyl-2-imidazolin-1-yl)ethanol, 2,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-1,4-dithi-ine 1,1,4,4-tetraoxide, 2-methoxyethylmercury acetate, 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride, 2-methoxyethylmercury silicate, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylrhodanine, 4-(2-nitroprop-1-enyl)phenyl thiocyanateme: ampropylfos, anilazine, azithiram, barium polysulfide, Bayer 32394, benodanil, benquinox, bentaluron, benzamacril; benzamacril-isobutyl, benzamorf, binapacryl, bis(methylmercury) sulfate, bis(tributyltin) oxide, buthiobate, cadmium calcium copper zinc chromate sulfate, carbamorph, CECA, chlobenthiazone, chloraniformethan, chlorfenazole, chlorquinox, climbazole, copper bis(3-phenylsalicylate), copper zinc chromate, cufraneb, cupric hydrazinium sulfate, cuprobam, cyclafuramid, cypendazole, cyprofuram, decafentin, dichlone, dichlozoline, diclobutrazol, dimethirimol, dinocton, dinosulfon, dinoterbon, dipyrithione, ditalimfos, dodicin, drazoxolon, EBP, ESBP, etaconazole, etem, ethirim, fenaminosulf, fenapanil, fenitropan, fluotrimazole, furcarbanil, furconazole, furconazole-cis, furmecyclox, furophanate, glyodine, griseofulvin, halacrinate, Hercules 3944, hexylthiofos, ICIA0858, isopamphos, isovaledione, mebenil, mecarbinzid, metazoxolon, methfuroxam, methylmercury dicyandiamide, metsulfovax, milneb, mucochloric anhydride, myclozolin, N-3,5-dichlorophenyl-succinimide, N-3-nitrophenylitaconimide, natamycin, N-ethylmercurio-4-toluenesulfonanilide, nickel bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate), OCH, phenylmercury dimethyldithiocarbamate, phenylmercury nitrate, phosdiphen, prothiocarb; prothiocarb hydrochloride, pyracarbolid, pyridinitril, pyroxychlor, pyroxyfur, quinacetol; quinacetol sulfate, quinazamid, quinconazole, rabenzazole, salicylanilide, SSF-109, sultropen, tecoram, thiadifluor, thicyofen, thiochlorfenphim, thiophanate, thioquinox, tioxymid, triamiphos, triarimol, triazbutil, trichlamide, urbacid, XRD-563, and zarilamid, and any combinations thereof.

Some of the herbicides that can be employed in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention include: amide herbicides such as allidochlor, beflubutamid, benzadox, benzipram, bromobutide, cafenstrole, CDEA, chlorthiamid, cyprazole, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, diphenamid, epronaz, etnipromid, fentrazamide, flupoxam, fomesafen, halosafen, isocarbamid, isoxaben, napropamide, naptalam, pethoxamid, propyzamide, quinonamid and tebutam; anilide herbicides such as chloranocryl, cisanilide, clomeprop, cypromid, diflufenican, etobenzanid, fenasulam, flufenacet, flufenican, mefenacet, mefluidide, metamifop, monalide, naproanilide, pentanochlor, picolinafen and propanil; arylalanine herbicides such as benzoylprop, flampropand flamprop-M; chloroacetanilide herbicides such as acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, butenachlor, delachlor, diethatyl, dimethachlor, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlor and xylachlor; sulfonanilide herbicides such as benzofluor, perfluidone, pyrimisulfan and profluazol; sulfonamide herbicides such as asulam, carbasulam, fenasulam and oryzalin; antibiotic herbicides such as bilanafos; benzoic acid herbicides such as chloramben, dicamba, 2,3,6-TBA and tricamba; pyrimidinyloxybenzoic acid herbicides such as bispyribac and pyriminobac; pyrimidinylthiobenzoic acid herbicides such as pyrithiobac; phthalic acid herbicides such as chlorthal; picolinic acid herbicides such as aminopyralid, clopyralid and picloram; quinolinecarboxylic acid herbicides such as quinclorac and quinmerac; arsenical herbicides such as cacodylic acid, CMA, DSMA, hexaflurate, MAA, MAMA, MSMA, potassium arsenite and sodium arsenite; benzoylcyclohexanedione herbicides such as mesotrione, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione and tembotrione; benzofuranyl alkylsulfonate herbicides such as benfuresate and ethofumesate; carbamate herbicides such as asulam, carboxazole chlorprocarb, dichlormate, fenasulam, karbutilate and terbucarb; carbanilate herbicides such as barban, BCPC, carbasulam, carbetamide, CEPC, chlorbufam, chlorpropham, CPPC, desmedipham, phenisopham, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, propham and swep; cyclohexene oxime herbicides such as alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxydim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim and tralkoxydim; cyclopropylisoxazole herbicides such as isoxachlortole and isoxaflutole; dicarboximide herbicides such as benzfendizone, cinidon-ethyl, flumezin, flumiclorac, flumioxazin and flumipropyn; dinitroaniline herbicides such as benfluralin, butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, isopropalin, methalpropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine, profluralin and trifluralin; dinitrophenol herbicides such as dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, DNOC, etinofen and medinoterb; diphenyl ether herbicides such as ethoxyfen; nitrophenyl ether herbicides such as acifluorfen, aclonifen, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chlornitrofen, etnipromid, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoronitrofen, fomesafen, furyloxyfen, halosafen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen and oxyfluorfen; dithiocarbamate herbicides such as dazomet and metam; halogenated aliphatic herbicides such as alorac, chloropon, dalapon, flupropanate, hexachloroacetone, iodomethane, methyl bromide, monochloroacetic acid, SMA and TCA; imidazolinone herbicides such as imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin and imazethapyr; inorganic herbicides such as ammonium sulfamate, borax, calcium chlorate, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, potassium azide, potassium cyanate, sodium azide, sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid; nitrile herbicides such as bromobonil, bromoxynil, chloroxynil, dichlobenil, iodobonil, ioxynil and pyraclonil; organophosphorus herbicides such as amiprofos-methyl, anilofos, bensulide, bilanafos, butamifos, 2,4-DEP, DMPA, EBEP, fosamine, glufosinate, glyphosate and piperophos; phenoxy herbicides such as bromofenoxim, clomeprop, 2,4-DEB, 2,4-DEP, difenopenten, disul, erbon, etnipromid, fenteracol and trifopsime; phenoxyacetic herbicides such as 4-CPA, 2,4-D, 3,4-DA, MCPA, MCPA-thioethyl and 2,4,5-T; phenoxybutyric herbicides such as 4-CPB, 2,4-DB, 3,4-DB, MCPB and 2,4,5-TB; phenoxypropionic herbicides such as cloprop, 4-CPP, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, 3,4-DP, fenoprop, mecopropand mecoprop-P; aryloxyphenoxypropionic herbicides such as chlorazifop, clodinafop, clofop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenthiaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, isoxapyrifop, metamifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-P and trifop; phenylenediamine herbicides such as dinitramine and prodiamine; pyrazolyl herbicides such as benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrasulfotole, pyrazoxyfen, pyroxasulfone and topramezone; pyrazolylphenyl herbicides such as fluazolate and pyraflufen; pyridazine herbicides such as credazine, pyridafol and pyridate; pyridazinone herbicides such as brompyrazon, chloridazon, dimidazon, flufenpyr, metflurazon, norflurazon, oxapyrazon and pydanon; pyridine herbicides such as aminopyralid, cliodinate, clopyralid, dithiopyr, fluoroxypyr, haloxydine, picloram, picolinafen, pyriclor, thiazopyr and triclopyr; pyrimidinediamine herbicides such as iprymidam and tioclorim; quaternary ammonium herbicides such as cyperquat, diethamquat, difenzoquat, diquat, morfamquat and paraquat; thiocarbamate herbicides such as butylate, cycloate, di-allate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethiolate, isopolinate, methiobencarb, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, pyributicarb, sulfallate, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tri-allate and vemolate; thiocarbonate herbicides such as dimexano, EXD and proxan; thiourea herbicides such as methiuron; triazine herbicides such as dipropetryn, triaziflam and trihydroxytriazine; chlorotriazine herbicides such as atrazine, chlorazine, cyanazine, cyprazine, eglinazine, ipazine, mesoprazine, procyazine, proglinazine, propazine, sebuthylazine, simazine, terbuthylazine and trietazine; methoxytriazine herbicides such as atraton, methometon, prometon, secbumeton, simeton and terbumeton; methylthiotriazine herbicides such as ametryn, aziprotryne, cyanatryn, desmetryn, dimethametryn, methoprotryne, prometryn, simetryn and terbutryn; triazinone herbicides such as ametridione, amibuzin, hexazinone, isomethiozin, metamitron and metribuzin; triazole herbicides such as amitrole, cafenstrole, epronaz and flupoxam; triazolone herbicides such as amicarbazone, bencarbazone, carfentrazone, flucarbazone, propoxycarbazone, sulfentrazone and thiencarbazone-methyl; triazolopyrimidine herbicides such as cloransulam, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam, penoxsulam and pyroxsulam; uracil herbicides such as butafenacil, bromacil, flupropacil, isocil, lenacil and terbacil; 3-phenyluracils; urea herbicides such as benzthiazuron, cumyluron, cycluron, dichloralurea, diflufenzopyr, isonoruron, isouron, methabenzthiazuron, monisouron and noruron; phenylurea herbicides such as anisuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chloreturon, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, daimuron, difenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fenuron, fluometuron, fluothiuron, isoproturon, linuron, methiuron, methyldymron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluoron, phenobenzuron, siduron, tetrafluoron and thidiazuron; pyrimidinylsulfonylurea herbicides such as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chlorimuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flucetosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, mesosulfuron, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron; triazinylsulfonylurea herbicides such as chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, ethametsulfuron, iodosulfuron, metsulfuron, prosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron, triflusulfuron and tritosulfuron; thiadiazolylurea herbicides such as buthiuron, ethidimuron, tebuthiuron, thiazafluoron and thidiazuron; and unclassified herbicides such as acrolein, allyl alcohol, azafenidin, benazolin, bentazone, benzobicyclon, buthidazole, calcium cyanamide, cambendichlor, chlorfenac, chlorfenprop, chlorflurazole, chlorflurenol, cinmethylin, clomazone, CPMF, cresol, ortho-dichlorobenzene, dimepiperate, endothal, fluoromidine, fluridone, fluorochloridone, flurtamone, fluthiacet, indanofan, methazole, methyl isothiocyanate, nipyraclofen, OCH, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxaziclomefone, pentachlorophenol, pentoxazone, phenylmercury acetate, pinoxaden, prosulfalin, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, quinoclamine, rhodethanil, sulglycapin, thidiazimin, tridiphane, trimeturon, tripropindan and tritac. 

1. A compound of either formulas (I) or (II)

wherein Z represents —(CH₂)—; X represents NO₂; R¹ represents C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl; n is an integer from 0-3; m is an integer from 0-1; and Y represents SO_(p)R¹ where p is an integer from 0-2.
 2. A compound of formula (I) or (II) according to claim 1, wherein R¹ is C₁-C₄ alkyl.
 3. A compound of formula (I) or (II) according to claim 1, wherein m+n ≦3.
 4. A compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, in which R¹ represents C₁-C₄ alkyl and m+n ≦3.
 5. A method of controlling insects which comprises applying to a locus where control is desired an insect-inactivating amount of a compound of any one of claims 2,3,or
 4. 